LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – As the spring semester at Purdue University comes to a close, one student organization is teaching college students like Austin Moore the skills needed to paint a brighter future for themselves this summer.

“There’s no other experience like this that I could get. Most people are lucky to get a job flipping burgers and here I am running my own business,” said Moore.

It’s called Student Painters. The student run organization recruits college students from around the state for a chance to run their own house painting business.

Purdue student Zak Ballard said it gives him experience he can’t get in the classroom.

“It’s one thing to read stuff in a book and it’s another to actually go out and apply it,” said Ballard.

After the application process and interviews, employees receive management and marketing training. Once their business is together they start building their clientele, but local Student Painters executive manager Matt Sumner said experience isn’t the only perk of the job.

“The main goal is to pretty much pay off your college tuition, have a little extra spending money, and then get a great management experience altogether,” said Sumner.

Moore said the experience is giving him an edge over future competition. But with a possibility of working up to 65 hours a week, it takes dedication.

“It’s going to be one of the hardest things you ever do, but so is running a business. Student painters is one of the only way you’re going to get the opportunity to really try that out and see if it’s what you want to do for the rest of your life,” said Moore.

WLFI.com provides commenting to allow for constructive discussion on the stories we cover. In order to comment here, you acknowledge you have read and agreed to our Terms of Service. Commenters who violate these terms, including use of vulgar language, off topic, or racial slurs, will be banned. Please be respectful of the opinions of others and keep the conversation on topic and civil. If you see an inappropriate comment, please flag it for our moderators to review.